Volcanofest: Outreach Fair Demonstrations Handbook

5 Minute Volcano-A Serious Game Design in Geological Hazards For Children
Keywords
Kieron Wall 1 , Heide Lukosch 1 , Ben Kennedy 2 , Simon Hoermann 3
1
HITLab NZ, University of Canterbury
2
School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury
3
School of Product Design, University of Canterbury
Hazards, Risk Communication, Evacuation, Serious Games, Māori, Children, Learning, Co-Design
Summary of the activity
This activity is a part of a Master’s thesis at the HITLab, UC, as part of the GNS-run Beneath the
Waves project. As a part of this outreach education, the game ‘5-minute volcano’ has been
developed into a prototype based on the card game ‘5-minute dungeon’ by Wiggles 3D. The design
of the game was to incorporate both an educational and engaging aspect to teach 10-12 year old
children more about volcanic eruptions and other geological hazards. Teams of 2-5 players must
work together to overcome obstacles, people and taniwha using their card hand (also known as their
knowledge), before stopping the final boss; a volcano.
There are currently 2 bosses in the game, and a high-fidelity prototype has been created for you to
game test. Using this game, we intend to further develop a game which can incorporate geological
hazard learning, Māori knowledge, and mechanics which allow children to learn in new, creative,
and exciting ways.
Target Audience Māori Children between the ages of 10-12
Learning Goal(s)
1. Communities need to work together with scientists to mitigate hazard impacts?
2. That volcanoes generate tsunamis and present a hazard to communities on the coast ?
3. Cultural knowledge and values have an important role in hazard mitigation.
4. Learning about volcanoes is fun !
has an important
Required Materials
The game ‘5-minute Volcano’, 2-5 players, a timer.
Instructions
5 Minute Volcano!
WELCOME!!!
Kia Ora, and welcome to Run for the Hills! In this game, you must work together using your
character’s knowledge to help you against obstacles, people, and even taniwhas!
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There are no turns. Everyone needs to use their own cards in the time limit to match the symbols on
the people, obstacle and taniwha cards.
Setting up the game:
• You will play as one of the characters created. Place the character in front of you.
• Take the cards with you characters colour, shuffle it, then place it on the ‘draw pile’ face
down.
• Draw the starting number of cards from the deck. This will change depending on how
many people are playing:
Number of Players
Starting Hand Size
2 Players 5 Cards
3 Players 4 Cards
4 or 5 Players 3 Cards
Preparing the Hazards
• Place the volcano you want to verse in the middle of the table. Start with the first
volcano, then if you win, move onto the next one.
• Count out the number of hazard cards equal to the number on the bottom of the
volcano card (starting at 20).
• Add 2 challenge cards (the hazard cards with a warning sign on) for each person playing.
• Shuffle the cards and pace them face down on the Volcano.
You need a timer that can count from 5 minutes. This needs to be easily paused and restarted. Start
the time when you turn over the first hazard card.
How to Play
There are 3 ways to deal with the hazard cards:
1) MATCH THE SYMBOLS: Use the coloured cards to match the colours on the hazards. Anyone
can help and the cards do not have to come from the same person. The coloured cards are:
BOOK, RUN, TEACH, HELPING HANDS, and LEAF
2) USE ACTION CARDS: Some characters have cards which can be used to quickly stop a hazard.
Do not place these in your discard pile once you play this. If your card can instantly defeat an
obstacle, it can only be used to defeat an obstacle, not a taniwha or person.
3) USE SPECIAL ABILITIES: Each character has a special ability on the bottom of their card. To
use it, discard 3 of your cards face up in your discard pile. You cannot do this if you do not
have 3 cards. This does not count as using your cards, so you can do this even when time is
paused!
Getting More Cards
When you play or discard cards, refill your hand back to the starting size. If you have more cards
than your starting size, do not refill your hand until you have fewer cards than your starting size.
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